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Burned opera fire-blower released from hospital

The Associated Press

Updated:
02/07/2013 05:00:33 PM EST

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This photo provided by the Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Ill., shows actor Wesley Daniel, 24, with bandages over his face, head and left hand and giving an "OK" sign as he is released from the hospital Thursday, Jan. 7, 2013. Daniel suffered second-degree burns Monday, Feb. 4, 2013, during a dress rehearsal at the Lyric Opera of Chicago while portraying a fire-blowing stilt walker.

MAYWOOD, Ill.—A fire-blowing stilt-walker with the Lyric Opera of Chicago who suffered second-degree burns during a dress rehearsal was released from the hospital Thursday.

Dr. Arthur Sanford of Loyola University Medical Center said Wesley Daniel, 24, should heal within two weeks. He equated the injuries to a "deep sunburn," and said that within six months, the incident should likely be a "bad memory."

Daniel was rehearsing Monday for the opera "Die Meistersinger von Nuernberg" when he had to swig flammable liquid and spit it onto a torch he was holding. Witnesses described him staggering off stage and falling to the floor.

The hospital released a picture of a Daniel with bandages over his face, head and left hand and giving an "OK" sign.

"Wesley is in good spirits," Daniel's father, Clifton Daniel, said. "We're going to take him home and let him eat what he wants ... We're going to let him rest and begin to heal."

Clifton Daniel says his son hasn't been able to give a cause for the accident.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration visited the opera after the incident. The opera has said it is fully cooperating.